Pork products handled in accordance with hygienic practices are not a source of A/H1N1 infection, according to a joint statement issued on Saturday by four authoritative international organizations.

"In light of the spread of influenza A/H1N1, and the rising concerns about the possibility of this virus being found in pigs and the safety of pork and pork products, we stress that pork and pork products, handled in accordance with good hygienic practices will not be a source of infection," said the statement.

The four organizations include the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and the World Trade Organization (WTO).

"To date there is no evidence that the virus is transmitted by food. There is currently therefore no justification in the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Standards Code for the imposition of trade measures on the importation of pigs or their products," the statement said.

However, it stressed the importance for veterinary authorities to "collaborate with human health counterparts to monitor pig herds for any signs of unusual illness with suspected linkages to human cases of A/H1N1 influenza."

The A/H1N1 virus, which is originated from pigs and has so far caused more than 600 confirmed human infections with 17 deaths, was first known as "swine flu."

To avoid misleading consumers, the WHO formally gave up the term on Thursday.

(Xinhua News Agency May 3, 2009)